Evaluation of the antioxidant property and effects in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caenorhabditis elegans</Emphasis> of Xiangxi flavor vinegar,a Hunan local traditional vinegar

Xiangxi flavor vinegar (XV) is one of Hunan Province’s traditional fermented vinegars. It is produced from herb, rice, and spring water with spontaneous liquid-state fermentation techniques. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant property of XV by analyzing its antioxidant compounds, its free radical scavenging property in vitro and in vivo, and its effects on antioxidant enzyme activity and apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans. The results showed that XV is rich in antioxidants. In particular, ligustrazine reached 6.431 μg/ml. The in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH^?), hydroxyl radical (^?OH), and superoxide anion radical (O ₂ ^?? ) scavenging rates of XV were 95.85%, 97.22%, and 63.33%, respectively. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) content in XV-treated C. elegans decreased significantly (P<0.01) compared to the control group. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities were remarkably increased (P<0.01) in C. elegans after XV treatment. In addition, XV could upregulate CED-9 protein expression and downregulate CED-3 protein expression in C. elegans. These results prove that XV is rich in antioxidants and scavenges radicals in vitro efficiently. XV inhibits apoptosis in C. elegans probably by scavenging ROS and increasing the activities of its antioxidant enzymes.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus emblica</Emphasis> Linn. fruit extract potentiates the anticancer efficacy of mitomycin C and cisplatin and reduces their genotoxicity to normal cells in vitro

Objective

Fruit of Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (PE) is widely consumed as a functional food and used as a folk medicine due to its remarkable nutritional and pharmacological effects. Mitomycin C (MMC) and cisplatin (cDDP) are the most widely used forms of chemotherapeutic drug, but their clinical use is limited by their genotoxicity to normal cells. We aimed to determine whether PE has potential to reduce the genotoxicity, while improving the anticancer effect, of MMC and cDDP.

Methods

Cell proliferation was evaluated using the trypan blue exclusion assay and colony-forming assay. Genomic instability (GIN) was measured using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay.

Results

Co-treatment (72 h) with PE at 20–320 μg/ml significantly enhanced the efficacy of MMC (0.05 μg/ml) and cDDP (1 μg/ml) against Colo205 colorectal cancer cells (P<0.05), and at 80–320 μg/ml significantly decreased MMCand cDDP-induced GIN and multinucleation in normal colonic NCM460 cells (P<0.05). PE significantly decreased the mitotic index (P<0.01), blocked mitotic progression (P<0.05), and promoted apoptosis (P<0.01) in MMC- and cDDP-treated NCM460 cells, suggesting that PE-mediated inhibition of mitosis and induction of apoptosis may limit the division and survival of highly damaged cells. Also, PE was found to inhibit the clonal expansion of MMC- and cDDP-treated NCM460 cells (P<0.05) and decrease the heterogeneity of the surviving clones.

Conclusions

PE potentiates the anticancer efficacy of MMC and cDDP, while preventing their genotoxicity and inhibiting clonal expansions of unstable genomes in normal cells. These data suggest that PE has the potential to reduce the risk of secondary cancers induced by chemotherapeutics.

     

Radiofrequency ablation versus hepatic resection for breast cancer liver metastasis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To evaluate the comparative therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and hepatic resection (HR) for breast cancer liver metastases (BCLMs).

Methods

Studies that had examined the outcomes for both RFA and HR for BCLM were identified by searching the electronic databases PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library. Pooled analyzes of the overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and short-term outcomes of BCLM were performed.

Results

Patients with BCLM gained many more survival benefits from HR than from RFA with regard to the 3-year OS rate (combined odds ratio (OR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29–0.59, P<0.001), 5-year OS rate (combined OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.32–0.46, P<0.001), 3-year DFS (combined OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.27–0.49, P<0.001), and 5-year DFS (combined OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.40–0.66, P<0.001). RFA had fewer postoperative complications (combined OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.20–0.44, P<0.001) and shorter hospital stays (combined OR -9.01, 95% CI -13.49–4.54, P<0.001) than HR.

Conclusions

HR takes precedence over RFA in the treatment of patients with BCLM, considering the better survival rate. RFA gives rise to fewer complications and can be carried out with a shorter hospital stay, compared to HR. RFA should be reserved for patients who are not optimum candidates for resection.

     

Interleukin-18, matrix metalloproteinase-22 and -29 are independent risk factors of human coronary heart disease

Background

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is characterized by arterial wall inflammation and matrix degradation. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-22 and -29 and pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-18 (IL18) are present in human hearts. IL18 may regulate MMP-22 and -29 expression, which may correlate with CHD progression.

Methods and results

Immunoblot analysis showed that IL18 induced MMP-22 expression in human aortic smooth muscle cells. The Mann Whitney test from a prospective study of 194 CHD patients and 68 non-CHD controls demonstrated higher plasma levels of IL18, MMP-22 and -29 in CHD patients than in the controls. A logistic regression test suggested that plasma IL18 (odds ratio (OR)=1.131, P=0.007), MMP-22 (OR=1.213, P=0.040), and MMP-29 (OR=1.198, P=0.033) were independent risk factors of CHD. Pearson’s correlation test showed that IL18 (coefficient (r)=0.214, P=0.045; r=0.246, P=0.031) and MMP-22 (r=0.273, P=0.006; r=0.286, P=0.012) were associated with the Gensini score before and after adjusting for potential confounding factors. The multivariate Pearson’s correlation test showed that plasma MMP-22 levels correlated positively with high-sensitive-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (r=0.167, P=0.023), and MMP-29 levels correlated negatively with triglyceride (r=?0.169, P=0.018). Spearman’s correlation test indicated that plasma IL18 levels associated positively with plasma MMP-22 (r=0.845, P<0.001) and MMP-29 (r=0.548, P<0.001).

Conclusions

Our observations suggest that IL18, MMP-22 and -29 serve as biomarkers and independent risk factors of CHD. Increased systemic IL18 in CHD patients may contribute to elevated plasma MMP-22 and -29 levels in these patients.

     

Effects of body mass index on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization in Chinese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a retrospective cohort study

Objective

To investigate the effects of body mass index (BMI) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Chinese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

In the retrospective cohort study, a total of 1074 patients with PCOS undergoing IVF between April 2010 and May 2017 in two reproductive medicine centers, respectively in eastern China (Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang Province) and in southern China (Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Liuzhou, Guangxi Province), were included. The patients were divided into four groups according to the recommended Chinese BMI cut-off points: underweight (BMI< 18.5 kg/m²), normal weight (18.5 kg/m²≤BMI<24.0 kg/m²), overweight (24.0 kg/m²≤BMI<28.0 kg/m²), and obese (BMI≥ 28.0 kg/m²). The basic characteristics of the PCOS patients, the details of IVF treatment, and the pregnancy outcomes were collected.

Main results

There were no significant differences among the normal weight, overweight, and obese PCOS patients undergoing IVF on the biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, or term delivery rate (P>0.05), although the overweight and obese PCOS patients required more gonadotropin (Gn) (P<0.001) as well as longer stimulation period (P<0.001), and got less retrieved oocytes (P<0.05) and fertilized oocytes (P<0.05). The underweight PCOS patients required less Gn (P<0.05) and achieved higher live birth rate and term delivery rate (P<0.05), compared with the normal weight PCOS patients.

Conclusions

High BMI had no negative effects on the outcomes of IVF in Chinese patients with PCOS; however, the conclusion may seem a little limited due to the retrospective design and the potential bias.

     

Controversial opinion: evaluation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">EGR1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">LAMA2</Emphasis> loci for high myopia in Chinese populations

Functional studies have suggested the important role of early growth response 1 (EGR1) and Laminin α2-chain (LAMA2) in human eye development. Genetic studies have reported a significant association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the LAMA2 gene with myopia. This study aimed to evaluate the association of the tagging SNPs (tSNPs) in the EGR1 and LAMA2 genes with high myopia in two independent Han Chinese populations. Four tSNPs (rs11743810 in the EGR1 gene; rs2571575, rs9321170, and rs1889891 in the LAMA2 gene) were selected, according to the HapMap database (http://hapmap.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), and were genotyped using the ligase detection reaction (LDR) approach for 167 Han Chinese nuclear families with extremely highly myopic offspring (<?10.0 diopters) and an independent group with 485 extremely highly myopic cases (<?10.0 diopters) and 499 controls. Direct sequencing was used to confirm the LDR results in twenty randomly selected subjects. Family-based association analysis was performed using the family-based association test (FBAT) software package (Version 1.5.5). Population-based association analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. The association analysis power was estimated using online software (http://design.cs.ucla.edu). The FBAT demonstrated that all four tSNPs tested did not show association with high myopia (P>0.05). Haplotype analysis of tSNPs in the LAMA2 genes also did not show a significant association (P>0.05). Meanwhile, population-based association analysis also showed no significant association results with high myopia (P>0.05). On the basis of our family- and population-based analyses for the Han Chinese population, we did not find positive association signals of the four SNPs in the LAMA2 and EGR1 genes with high myopia.     

Factors affecting cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure in patients with spontaneous intracranial hypotension

Objectives

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is recognized far more commonly than ever before. Though usually characterized by low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, some patients with SIH are observed to have normal pressure values. In this study, we aimed to confirm the proportion of patients with normal CSF opening pressure (CSF OP) and explore the factors affecting CSF OP in SIH patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 206 consecutive SIH patients and analyzed their clinical and imaging variables (including demographic data, body mass index (BMI), duration of symptoms, and brain imaging findings). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the potential factors affecting CSF OP.

Results

In a total of 114 (55.3%) cases the CSF OP was ≤60 mmH₂O (1 mmH₂O=9.806 65 Pa), in 90 (43.7%) cases it was between 60 and 200 mmH2O, and in 2 (1.0%) cases it was >200 mmH2O. Univariate analysis showed that the duration of symptoms (P<0.001), BMI (P<0.001), and age (P=0.024) were positively correlated with CSF OP. However, multivariate analysis suggested that only the duration of symptoms (P<0.001) and BMI (P<0.001) were strongly correlated with CSF OP. A relatively high R ² of 0.681 was obtained for the multivariate model.

Conclusion

Our study indicated that in patients without a low CSF OP, a diagnosis of SIH should not be excluded. BMI and the duration of symptoms can influence CSF OP in SIH patients, and other potential factors need further investigation.

     

Follicle-stimulating hormone increases the intramuscular fat content and expression of lipid biosynthesis genes in chicken breast muscle

Intramuscular fat (IMF) is a crucial factor in the quality of chicken meat. The genetic basis underlying it is complex. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), well-known as an effector in reproductive tissues, was recently discovered to stimulate abdominal fat accumulation in chicken. The effect of FSH on IMF accumulation and the underlying molecular regulatory mechanisms controlling both IMF and abdominal fat deposition in vivo are largely unknown. In this study, two groups of chickens were treated with chicken FSH or a placebo. The lipid content of breast muscle, abdominal fat volume, and serum concentrations of FSH were examined. Related genes implicated in breast muscle and abdominal fat accumulation were also investigated. Compared to the control group, the triglyceride (TG) content of breast muscle and the percentage of abdominal fat in FSH-treated chickens were significantly increased by 64.9% and 56.5% (P<0.01), respectively. The FSH content in the serum of FSH-treated chickens was 2.1 times than that of control chickens (P<0.01). Results from quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays showed that relative expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2), adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) were significantly upregulated in breast muscle following FSH treatment (P<0.01). Treatment with FSH also significantly increased relative expression levels of FAS, LPL, DGAT2, A-FABP, and PPARγ in abdominal fat tissue (P<0.05). The results of principal component analysis (PCA) for gene expression (breast muscle and abdominal fat) showed that the control and FSH treatment groups were well separated, which indicated the reliability of the data. This study demonstrates that FSH plays an important role in IMF accumulation in female chickens, which likely involves the regulation of biosynthesis genes related to lipid metabolism.     

Studying and Constructing Concept Maps: a Meta-Analysis

A concept map is a node-link diagram in which each node represents a concept and each link identifies the relationship between the two concepts it connects. We investigated how using concept maps influences learning by synthesizing the results of 142 independent effect sizes (n = 11,814). A random-effects model meta-analysis revealed that learning with concept and knowledge maps produced a moderate, statistically significant effect (g = 0.58, p < 0.001). A moderator analysis revealed that creating concept maps (g = 0.72, p < 0.001) was associated with greater benefit relative to respective comparison conditions than studying concept maps (g = 0.43, p < 0.001). Additional moderator analyses indicated learning with concept maps was superior to other instructional comparison conditions, and was effective across science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and non-STEM knowledge domains. Further moderator analyses, as well as implications for theory and practice, are provided.     

Poly(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">D,L</Emphasis>-lactic-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-glycolic acid)-based artesunate nanoparticles: formulation,antimalarial and toxicity assessments

Objective

The aim of this study was to formulate polymer-based artesunate nanoparticles for malaria treatment.

Methods

Artesunate was loaded with poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) by solvent evaporation from an oil-in-water single emulsion. Nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. In vivo antimalarial studies at 4 mg/kg were performed on Swiss male albino mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Hematological and hepatic toxicity assays were performed. In vitro cytotoxicity of free and encapsulated artesunate (Art-PLGA) to cell line RAW 264.7 was determined at concentrations of 7.8–1000 μg/ml.

Results

The particle size of the formulated drug was (329.3±21.7) nm and the entrapment efficiency was (38.4±10.1)%. Art-PLGA nanoparticles showed higher parasite suppression (62.6%) compared to free artesunate (58.2%, P<0.05). Platelet counts were significantly higher in controls (305 000.00±148 492.40) than in mice treated with free artesunate (139 500.00±20 506.10) or Art-PLGA (163 500.00±3535.53) (P<0.05). There was no sign of hepatic toxicity following use of the tested drugs. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of Art-PLGA (468.0 μg/ml) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of free artesunate (7.3 μg/ml) in the in vitro cytotoxicity assay.

Conclusions

A simple treatment of PLGA-entrapped artesunate nanoparticles with dual advantages of low toxicity and better antiplasmodial efficacy has been developed.

     

Distribution and differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells after fluid resuscitation in mice with hemorrhagic shock

Objective

To investigate the distribution and differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in hemorrhagic shock mice, which are resuscitated with normal saline (NS), hypertonic saline (HTS), and hydroxyethyl starch (HES).

Methods

BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control, NS, HTS, and HES resuscitation groups. Three subgroups (n=8) in each resuscitation group were marked as 2, 24, and 72 h. Flow cytometry was used to detect the MDSCs, monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs), and granulocytic/neutrophilic MDSCs (G-MDSCs) in peripheral blood nucleated cells (PBNCs), spleen single-cell suspension, and bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs).

Results

The MDSCs in BMNCs among three resuscitation groups were lower 2 h after shock, in PBNCs of the HTS group were higher, and in spleen of the NS group were lower (all P<0.05 vs. control). The M-MDSC/G-MDSC ratios in PBNCs of the HTS and HES groups were lower (both P<0.05 vs. control). At 24 h, the MDSCs in PBNCs of the NS and HTS groups were higher, while the spleen MDSCs in the HTS group were higher (all P<0.05 vs. control). The M-MDSC/G-MDSC ratios were all less in PBNCs, spleen, and BMNCs of the NS and HTS groups, and were lower in BMNCs of the HES group (all P<0.05 vs. control). At 72 h, the elevated MDSCs in PBNCs were presented in the HTS and HES groups, and in spleen the augment turned up in three resuscitation groups (all P<0.05 vs. control). The inclined ratios to M-MDSC were exhibited in spleen of the NS and HTS groups, and in PBNCs of the NS group; the inclination to G-MDSC in BMNCs was shown in the HES group (all P<0.05 vs. control).

Conclusions

HTS induces the earlier elevation of MDSCs in peripheral blood and spleen, and influences its distribution and differentiation, while HES has a less effect on the distribution but a stronger impact on the differentiation of MDSCs, especially in bone marrow.

     

Polymorphisms of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">IGF1</Emphasis> gene and their association with growth traits,serum concentration and expression rate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">IGF1</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">IGF1R</Emphasis> in buffalo

The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene is a member of the group of somatotropin axis genes that play a significant role in cell proliferation and growth of muscles. Here, we searched for polymorphisms in buffalo IGF1 and found two novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), G64A and G280A, in the noncoding sequences of exon 1 and exon 4, respectively. Statistical analysis of different genotypes showed that the individuals with GG genotypes had significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) than those with other genotypes at ages of 3–6 months in G64A SNP and 6–9 months in G280A SNP. The combined genotypes of these two SNPs produced three haplotypes, GG/GG, AG/AG, and AA/AA, which were significantly associated (P<0.0001) with BW and ADG at an age from 3 to 12 months. Buffaloes with the homozygous GG/GG haplotype showed higher growth performance than other buffaloes. The two SNPs were correlated with mRNA levels of IGF1 and IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) in semitendinosus muscle as well as with the serum concentration level of IGF1. Also, buffaloes with GG/GG haplotype showed higher mRNA and serum concentration levels. The data revealed that these two SNPs could be valuable genetic markers for selection of Egyptian buffaloes for better performance in the population.     

bmo-miR-0001 and bmo-miR-0015 down-regulate expression of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bombyx mori</Emphasis> fibroin light chain gene in vitro

Based on bioinformatic analysis, we selected two novel microRNAs (miRNAs), bmo-miR-0001 and bmomiR-0015, from high-throughput sequencing of the Bombyx mori larval posterior silk gland (PSG). Firstly, we examined the expression of bmo-miR-0001 and bmo-miR-0015 in 12 different tissues of the 5th instar Day-3 larvae of the silkworm. The results showed that the expression levels of both bmo-miR-0001 and bmo-miR-0015 were obviously higher in the PSG than in other tissues, implying there is a spatio-temporal condition for bmo-miR-0001 and bmo-miR-0015 to regulate the expression of BmFib-L. To test this hypothesis, we constructed pri-bmo-miR-0001 expressing the plasmid pcDNA3.0 [ie1-egfp-pri-bmo-miR-0001-SV40] and pri-bmo-miR-0015 expressing the plasmid pcDNA3.0 [ie1-egfp-pribmo-miR-0015-SV40]. Finally, the BmN cells were harvested and luciferase activity was detected. The results showed that luciferase activity was reduced significantly (P<0.05) in BmN cells co-transfected by pcDNA3.0 [ie1-egfp-pri-bmomiR-0001-SV40] or pcDNA3.0 [ie1-egfp-pri-bmo-miR-0015-SV40] with pGL3.0 [A3-luc-Fib-L-3′UTR-SV40], suggesting that both bmo-miR-0001 and bmo-miR-0015 can down-regulate the expression of BmFib-L in vitro.     

An efficacy analysis of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for choroidal neovascularization secondary to multifocal choroiditis and comparison with wet age-related macular degeneration

Objective

To evaluate the effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on juxtafoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to multifocal choroiditis (MFC) and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: In this retrospective, comparative study, 20 unique eyes with CNV were divided into two groups: 10 patients affected by MFC and 10 patients diagnosed with wet AMD. They all received local intravitreal (IVT) injections of ranibizumab, with 6 months of follow-up. Retreatment injections were performed based on findings suggestive of active neovascularization.

Results

Significant improvements were observed in the juxtafoveal CNV lesions, and average central macular thickness decreased in both groups following the anti-VEGF therapy (P<0.05). The average number of injections used in MFC patients was 1.6, while three injections on average were used in wet AMD patients (Z=?2.844, P=0.009). Best-corrected visual acuity was significantly improved in MFC patients after anti-VEGF therapy (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in wet AMD patients between before anti-VEGF therapy and 6 months later (P>0.05).

Conclusions

IVT ranibizumab resulted in good clinical outcomes for juxtafoveal CNV secondary to MFC and wet AMD, but the average number of injections used in MFC was fewer than that used in wet AMD over a 6-month observation period. Compared with the wet AMD group, visual acuity was obviously improved in the MFC group at 6 months.

     

Effects of dietary fresh fermented soybean meal on growth performance,ammonia and particulate matter emissions,and nitrogen excretion in nursery piglets

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of fresh fermented soybean meal (FSM) on the growth performance of nursery piglets, nitrogen excretion in feces, and the concentrations of ammonia (NH₃) and particulate matter (PM) in the piggery. A total of 472 nursery piglets (Landrace×Yorkshire, (16.3±0.36) kg body weight) were randomly allocated into two treatments with 236 pigs in each treatment. The pigs were fed the basal diet without fresh FSM (control) or diet containing 10% (100 g/kg) fresh FSM (FSM group), and the crude protein content of the two groups was consistent. The feeding trial lasted for 28 d. The results showed that the pigs fed fresh FSM had increased (P<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) compared with the control. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in feed to gain ratio (F:G) between the two groups. During the whole experiment, the concentration of NH₃ in the piggery decreased (P<0.05) by 19.0%, and the concentrations of PM (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) in the piggery decreased (P<0.05) by 19.9% and 11.6%, respectively, in the FSM group, compared with the control. The ammonia nitrogen and nitrite content in feces increased (P<0.05) by 32.9% and 28.4%, respectively, in the FSM group. The fecal pH declined (P<0.05) significantly in the FSM group compared with the control. At the end of experiment, total protein (TP) concentration was increased (P<0.05) significantly and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration was decreased (P<0.05) for pigs fed the diet with fresh FSM. The results indicated that dietary fresh FSM not only improved the growth performance of nursery piglets, but also reduced the NH₃ concentration in the piggery due to nitrogen conversion, and decreased the concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in the piggery.     

Biomolecular characterization,identification, enzyme activities of molds and physiological changes in sweet potatoes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ipomea batatas</Emphasis>) stored under controlled atmospheric conditions

Microbial attacks during storage are one of the primary causes of product deterioration, and can limit the process of prolonging the shelf-life of harvested food. In this study, sweet potatoes were stored at temperatures of 13, 21, and 29 °C for 4 weeks. Samples were collected during storage and plated on potato dextrose agar, from which axenic mold cultures were obtained and identified using 26S rRNA gene sequences. Physiological changes of potato tubers were assessed with respect to pathogenicity, enzyme activity, and atmospheric storage conditions. Six fungal species were identified, namely Penicillium chrysogenum (P. rubens), P. brevicompactum, Mucor circinelloides, Cladosporium cladosporiodes, P. expansum, and P. crustosum. The following fungal isolates, namely P. expansum, P. brevicompactum, and Rhizopus oryzae, were recovered from the re-infected samples and selected according to their levels of enzyme activity. This study revealed high levels of activity for cellulase and pectinase, which were most notable during the initial three days of testing, and were followed by a steady decrease (P<0.05). Polygalacturonase activity was prominent with values ranging from 12.64 to 56.79 U/mg (P. expansum) and 18.36 to 79.01 U/mg (P. brevicompactum). Spoilage was obvious in the control group, which had a 100% decay at the end of the experimental period compared with samples treated with iprodione and sodium hypochlorite, in which the decay rates were 5% and 55%, respectively. The data for the iprodione- and sodium hypochlorite-treated samples at the end of the 3-month storage period showed that they were significantly different (P=0.041), with the sodium hypochlorite-treated samples producing twice the rate of infection compared to the iprodione-treated samples. The comparative rate of the progression of decay in the treated samples can be expressed as iprodione<sodium hypochlorite<control. This study demonstrates that sweet potato tissue damage is due to the activities of microbial enzymes and, in particular, the pectinases of the organisms isolated from the infected potato tissues, and suggests the advantages of utilizing iprodione as a curing agent for potato tubers before storage.     

Global changes of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and 5-methylcytosine from normal to tumor tissues are associated with carcinogenesis and prognosis in colorectal cancer

Aberrant DNA methylation has raised widespread attention in tumorigenesis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the changes of global DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation from normal to tumor tissues in colorectal cancer (CRC) and their association with the prognosis. The levels of genomic 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) and 5-methylcytosine (5mC) in cancerous tissues were significantly lower than those in corresponding adjacent normal tissues. The genomic levels of 5mC were significantly positively correlated with 5hmC in normal and cancerous tissues (all P<0.05). The ratio of 5mC in cancerous tissues to matched normal tissues (C/N-5mC) was also significantly positively correlated with the ratio of 5hmC in cancerous tissues to matched normal tissues (C/N-5hmC) (P=0.01). The 5mC levels and C/N-5mC ratios decreased with age (all P<0.05). Higher 5mC and 5hmC levels were found in rectal than in colon tissues (all P<0.05). High levels of 5mC in cancerous tissues and high C/N-5hmC ratios were each associated with lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). Survival analysis indicated that the C/N-5mC ratio (P=0.04) is an independent protective factor for overall survival. The data showed that patients with a combination of high C/N-5hmC and low C/N-5mC ratios tended to have a worse prognosis (P<0.01). Our findings showed that the C/N-5mC ratio may be an independent prognostic factor for CRC outcome. Patients with both a high C/N-5hmC ratio and a low C/N-5mC ratio exhibited the worst survival, suggesting that 5mC and 5hmC can be used as critical markers in tumorigenesis and prognosis estimation.     

匹伐他汀钙对高胆固醇血症患者动脉粥样硬化的影响（英文）

目的:观察匹伐他汀钙对高胆固醇血症患者外周血管的影响。创新点:首次在国内发现匹伐他汀钙能够改善高胆固醇血症患者肱动脉和颈动脉血管内皮功能而且延缓其动脉粥样硬化发展,并首次证实改善内皮功能是匹伐他汀钙延缓其动脉粥样硬化发展的重要原因。方法:按照入选排除标准,选取本院高胆固醇血症患者(HC),完成超声心动图检查的40例。根据剂量不同,分为两个剂量组:1 mg剂量组20例(男性5例,女性15例,平均年龄(55.20±8.35)岁),2 mg剂量组20例(男性9例,女性11例,平均年龄(57.56±6.09)岁)。访视结束后完成超声心动图检查的HC组36例,两个剂量组分别有2人失访。治疗后1 mg剂量组18例(男性3例,女性15例,平均年龄(56.00±7.85)岁),2 mg剂量组18例(男性7例,女性11例,平均年龄(57.79±6.46)岁)。选择本院同期体检中心30例正常人作为对照(年龄和性别均与病例组匹配,男性14例,女性16例,平均年龄(54.94±6.90)岁)。所有研究对象,均经隔夜禁食12~14小时,次日清晨抽取空腹肘静脉血,测定临床生化指标。采用Sequia512彩色多普勒超声诊断仪,应用高分辩率外周血管超声技术,检测HC治疗前后肱动脉血流介导性舒张功能(FMD)、颈动脉结构和功能。结论:经匹伐他汀钙治疗8周后,高胆固醇血症患者血管功能明显改善,表现为FMD升高,僵硬度减小;颈动脉僵硬度和内中膜厚度(IMT)延缓进展与其内皮功能改善密切相关。     

Creation of a rabbit model for intrauterine adhesions using electrothermal injury

The pathogenesis and therapeutic treatment of intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) remain unsolved, highlighting the need for stable and effective experimental animal models. In this study, uterine electrocoagulation of twenty-one female New Zealand White rabbits was carried out to establish an IUA model. As rabbits have two completely separate uterine horns, each rabbit had its own internal control: one uterine horn was given an electrothermal injury (Group A, n=21), and the contralateral uterine horn received no treatment and served as the control (Group B, n=21). The endometrial morphology, number of endometrial glands, area of endometrial fibrosis, and number of implanted fetuses were compared between the two groups. In Group A, the numbers of endometrial glands on Days 7 and 14 and the number of implanted fetuses were significantly lower than those in Group B (P<0.05, P<0.05, and P<0.01, respectively), while the ratio of the area with endometrial stromal fibrosis to the total endometrial area was significantly increased (P<0.01). These results suggest that this method of electrothermal injury is effective for the establishment of a rabbit IUA model between 7 and 14 d after surgery.     

Characterization of the mean velocity of a circular jet in a bounded basin

A circular jet has broad and important applications in practical engineering. Most research in this area has focused on a free jet, a wall jet or a vertical jet in a bounded domain. In this study, the mean velocities of circular offset jets were studied for four jet exit Froude numbers (Fr), three offset heights (S) (S/d=1, 2, 3) and three submergence ratios (ht/S) (surface jet, mixed jet, and submerged jet) in a bounded basin. Based on the results, we propose a velocity decay formula for a circular jet. The lateral velocity spread was more consistent with Gaussian and Cauchy–Lorentz distributions than the vertical velocity. Moreover, Fr had little effect on the decay of the mean velocity for a circular jet when Re>1×10⁴. The lateral and vertical spreads showed a quadratic relationship with the streamwise distance for different values of Fr at X/d<10. The positions of maximum mean velocity decay were independent of Fr and S/d when X/d<10. The spread rate was more uniform in the lateral direction than that in the vertical direction in a certain region for different S/d and ht/S. Therefore, the decay, spread, and maximum velocity position of the mean velocity for a circular offset jet can remain stable under different values of Fr, offset height, and submergence ratio.